Magnetoacoustic Shocks as a Driver of Quiet-Sun Mottles

We present high spatial and high temporal resolution observations of the quiet Sun in Hα obtained with the Swedish 1-m Solar Telescope on La Palma. We observe that many mottles, jetlike features in the quiet Sun, display clear up- and downward motions along their main axis. In addition, many mottles show vigorous transverse displacements. Unique identification of the mottles throughout their lifetime is much harder than for their active region counterpart, dynamic fibrils. This is because many seem to lack a sharply defined edge at their top, and significant fading often occurs throughout their lifetime. For those mottles that can be reliably tracked, we find that the mottle tops often undergo parabolic paths. We find a linear correlation between the deceleration these mottles undergo and the maximum velocity they reach, similar to what was found earlier for dynamic fibrils. Combined with an analysis of oscillatory properties, we conclude that at least part of the quiet-Sun mottles are driven by magnetoacoustic shocks. In addition, the mixed-polarity environment and vigorous dynamics suggest that reconnection may play a significant role in the formation of some quiet-Sun jets.